Nez Perce Appaloosas doing the shuffle (longish)

[Jennifer Hixson Layman <jlayman@leland.Stanford.EDU>]

A friend of mine is on the Appaloosa list and she forwarded this article to
me because of its mention of endurance.  I found it very interesting, and
since the Nez Perce Appaloosas have been in discussion lately I thought
others might enjoy it.

>
>Onto the next item: Can anyone explain shuffeling and how it is
>differant from a walking horse gait?
>
>The Indian Shuffle is a gait unique to the Appaloosa.  It is smoother than
>any gaited horse gait, and faster (about as fast, or faster, than most
>horses' working canter. Most people are often amazed when they see it for
>the first time.)
>Following are quotes from an Appaloosa News article printed in June '78.
>This is long for an e-mail, but contains important info.  I have edited to
>nake the article briefer.
>                   " The Indian Shuffle
>      The Indian shuffle, like a pace, is a lateral gait: the legs on the
>same side of the horse move together. In the shuffle, the pace is broken as
>each hoof hits the ground a fraction ahead of the other, which results in
>four beats as in the walk.
>    The shuffle is sometimes called the "running walk," but the true walk,
>like the trot, is a diagonal gait.
>    The shuffle, as its name implies, does not have much elevation. The
>horse moves with a rolling motion of the shoulders and hips: the motion of
>the horse is absorbed in its back and loins giving the rider a smooth,
>gliding ride. Also, because the pace is broken, it lacks the side-to-side
>motion of the true pace."  (My note: pacing can be seen in some harness
>racers.  I have owned a Standardbred pacer, and riding this gait is
>bone-shaking, not meant for the saddle, but for the cart.)
>    Robert L. Peekinpah, in the the "Appaloosa Heritage," had this to say:
>"Rough country cowmen are unanimous, today, in praising the remarkable lack
>of leg trouble in this colorful, ground-covering horse. They are quick to
>point out that his natural traveling gait, the Indian shuffle, a seemingly
>tireless running walk, is a characteristic of this clean-legged horse in
>all but a few animals."
>    When the breed registry was formed by Claude Thompson and Dr, Francis
>Haines in
>1938, many of the foundation horses came by this natural gait, as their
>ancestors had
>before them.
>    It has been said that Gene Autry used to show off the gait of his
>Appaloosa El
>Morroco F-18 by putting a roping saddle on him, placing a glass of water on
>the horn and riding off at full speed without spilling a drop.
>    The closer a breeder stays to foundation stock, the greater the
>likelyhood that a
>percentage of his herd will have the shuffle. The greatest instance would
>occur from strict Appaloosa to Appaloosa crosses.
>    Crosses to other breeds tend to erase the gait quickly. In fact, as the
>years go by, it is increasing difficult to find the Indian shuffle, and
>many breeders have never heard of it.
>    Many breeders find the ride so comfortable that they encourage it in
>their stock. One Ohio man, Don Ulrich, is actually breeding for it. He has
>chosen the difficult task of gathering Appaloosas with the shuffle from
>across the United States for this breeding program. Ulrich plans to breed a
>horse with the shuffle for endurance and long distance riding and has had
>very interesting reactions to his search. One breeder suggested sending
>sending such horses to slaughter, while others were very enthusiastic about
>the idea, including those who have ridden such a horse he has purchased.
>    In the show ring the shuffle is not an asset. A horse that deviates
>from the walk, trot, and canter is disqualified. Although a horse with the
>shuffle can still trot, the horse will often insist on shuffling under
>saddle. Breeders with their eyes on the "blues" would not keep a shuffler
>long.
>     Where does the shuffle belong? At this moment not in the show ring.
>Perhaps some
>day it might be allowed in costume classes where one strives to be
>authentic to the Nez
>Perce tradition.
>     Today it appears that this gait was made for the endurance enthusiast
>and pleasure
>rider. The shuffle requires a minmum effort on the part of the horse, and
>those who ride say it is the perfect sure-footed gait for hilly country.
>     Everyone interested in the Appaloosa should be familiar with the
>Indian shuffle. As part of American history, the shuffle could provide
>extra enjoyment for many Appaloosa enthusiast."
>